Machine for skelping iron



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Machine for Skelping Iron.

No. 225,835. Patented Mar. 23,1880.

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II. HOOVE'N. I Machine for Skelping Iron.

No. 225,835. Patented Mar. 23, I880.

m? Q 2% A I y L4 W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES IIOOVEN, OF NORRISTOWVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR SKELPlNG IRON.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 225,835, dated March 23, 1880.

Application filed October 29, 1879.

To all whom it may concernr lie it known that 1, JAMES HOOVEN, of Nori'istown, in the county of Montgomery and State oiPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for Bending or Skelping Iron; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompz'tnying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Figure l is a top or plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line q q of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line M of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar section on line 15 t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar section on line 1; o of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a similar section 011 line :rwof Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a similar section on line zzof Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a similar section on line .9 s of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 isa similar section on line an of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a similar section on line 10 w of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a similar section on line 3 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is an end view of the plate or strip fiat. Fig. 13 is an end view of the plate after passing the last pair of rolls.

The same letter indicates the same part in all the figures.

The object of this invention is the bending or skelping of iron into propershape for makin g or wcldingpipe or tubes either direct from the finishing-rolls of a rolling -mill, or after cutting into proper lengths after passing through said finishing-rolls without reheating, or after reheating in a skelping or bending furnace, as may be most expedient.

It may also be applied to the bending of iron or other metals into any shape required for any other purpose, either cold or in the other conditions mentioned.

The invention consists in the construction of a machine in which a continuous series of rolls or sheaves set upon a frame or bed-plate and provided with the necessary housings, guides, and fixtures, and having the proper surface configuration, bring the sheet or strip of metal gradually into the required shape or form as it passes through the skelping-machine, all as hereinafter more particularlyset forth.

In the accompanying drawings, A marks a heavy frame supporting the operative parts. B is the first guide, provided with the small roller 0, under which the sheet or strip of metal S passes to the first pair of rolls, D E, the shape of whielnis shown in Fig. 3. i From this pair the-metal passes through guide F, (shown in Fig. 8,) its edges being held firmly, but so as to avoid friction, by the lips llof said guide, and enters between the second pair of rolls, G H, (see Fig. 4,) which still further bend it, and deliver it to guide I, Fig. 9. Thence it passes successively between rolls J K, through guide L, Fig. 10, between rolls M N, through guide 0, Fig. 11, and, finally, between rolls P Q, onto the delivery guide 1%, having in its passage through the machine re ceived the shape T. (Shown in Fig. 13.)

The successive open guides shown in Figs. 8, 9,10, and 11 have curves gradually increasing in depth, and are provided with lips l, which receive and hold the edges of the sheet or strip of metal.

The guides, whose sides are parallel, in no manner serve to modify the form of the skelp while passing through them. They and their lips serve only to guide it by holding it firmly, yet without friction, to its properline of direction. This peculiarity of this machine result-s in a great lessening of friction and saving of power. The inner edges of the lips are'bent down and formed, as shown, to embrace the inner surfaces of the skelp at its edges loosely, but so as to effectually prevent its turning or twisting in the-guide. I

The forming-rollers M N, I have sometimes used as idlers; but I find they work better when driven, the small roller or sheave N operating to lessen friction. The upper roll, M, is provided with a tongue, t, which passes between the edges of the skelp. A similar tongue, t, forms part of the upper roll, P, of the last pair, and serves to prevent the edges of the skelp from closing together.

The rolls M N and P Q serve by their action on the plate to bend its end inward and give a pear shape to the cross-section of the finished skelp,as shownin Fig. 13. This is an important feature, as, if the transverse section were circular the edges would fall under the welding-heat, and butt-welding would be rendered much more difficult.

I CC.

The machine may be gearedand driven in any convenient manner, the upper roller-jour- The strip or sheet of metal to be bent-may,

if desired, be fed to the machine direct from the finishing-rolls of the rolliugmill; but- I.. prefer to out the sheet into the proper lengths before bending. It may be bent hot or cold. as preferred.

I do not limit myself to anypartieular number of rolls or to their arrangement in a horizontal plane, as their number and position may be varied without any departure from the principle of my invention.

l disclaim, however, the use of horizontal and vertical rolls in combination in the same machine.

What I claim isl. ln a machine for bending, or sli'elpiug iron, the'series of pairs of rolls I) I l, (.1 ll, J K, M N, and I. Q, in combination with 'the open-lipped guides Fl 1 0, all eonstrueted and arranged substantially as described, and

operating in the manner and for thepurpose' specified.

\ 2. In a skelping-maehine, a series of opengrooved guides provided with lips I, having their inner edges turned down, as described and shown, aml arranged between the skelping-rollers for the purpose of guiding without eol'npressing the skelp or modifying its form, all ,in the manner and for the'purpose set forth. In testimony that I claim the fln-egoing as my own invention I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

i JAMES IIOOVEN. Witnesses:

ALBERT L. MURPHY, W. U. STOKES. 

